Results from Test Project

Fall 2023

[1] TRUE
[1] TRUE

Farm 146

Thank the participating farmer. Consider including infomration related to how many samples you’ve taken, in how many crops and regions. Consider identifying members of the project team and acknowledging support from your funders and collaborators.

Soil Health

Soil health is a term that describes how well a soil ecosystem supports plants, animals, and humans. It also recognizes the living nature of soils and the importance of soil microorganisms. Healthy soils can provide wildlife habitat, support biodiversity, reduce the effects of climate change, filter air and water, increase crop productivity and food security, and ensure thriving rural economies.

Qualities of a Healthy Agricultural Soil
  • Good soil tilth allows roots to penetrate
  • Near neutral pH (6–8) maximizes nutrient availability for most crops, and minimizes Al and Mn toxicity
  • Sufficient—but not excessive—nutrient supply for crop growth
  • Small population of plant pathogens and pests
  • Adequate soil drainage and infiltration
  • Diverse and active microbial population
  • Low weed seed bank
  • No residual chemicals or toxins that may harm the crop, including salts
  • Resistance to degradation such as from erosion or surface runoff

Soil Science 101

A crucial part of the soil health journey is measuring changes in your soil and understanding how to interpret those measurements. We can measure soil health with a range of indicators describing a soil’s physical, chemical, and biological properties, which can relate to important soil functions. Each indicator measures a different property of the soil and can be affected differently by management.

To learn more about management practices that support healthy soil, check out these resources from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) principles of building soil health.

What We Measured in Your Soil

Potentially Mineralizable Carbon (MinC, frequently referred to as “Soil Respiration”) measures the release of carbon dioxide (CO₂) from soil. This measurement is done in a laboratory incubation under controlled conditions “ideal” for microbes. The term mineralization refers to the process in which soil microbes produce CO₂ as they decompose SOM and plant residues. This process also releases other nutrients, like nitrogen, which can be taken up by crops. Higher MinC represents greater potential biological activity. Soils with lower SOM will have inherently lower MinC, while compacted soils may not provide adequate aeration for the mineralization process.

Electrical Conductivity (EC) measures the concentration of salts in the soil. Excessive salts can stress plants and lower crop yield and quality, as well as impact soil structure, infiltration rates, and water holding capacity. In particular, sodium (Na) can cause crusting and dispersion of soil particles, leading to surface runoff and erosion. Crops in sodium-affected soils (sodic soils) may also have challenges taking up other essential salts such as Ca, Mg, and K.

Soil Health Indicators

The below table describes: 1. What each indicator helps measure in your soil; 2. Whether you want the measured value to be higher (more is better), lower (less is better), or in the middle (optimal range); and 3. How often to measure each indicator. Our understanding of these indicators is rapidly evolving as researchers measure them in diverse soils, cropping systems, and climates.

More is better scoring curveOptimal range scoring curveLess is better scoring curve

Soil Health Indicator

Soil Function

Scoring Curve Type

Measure every: 1-3 years

ACE Soil Protein

Nutrient cycling, biodiversity & habitat, filtering & resilience

More is better

Aggregate Stability

Physical support, water relations, biodiversity & habitat, filtering & resilience

More is better

Electrical Conductivity (EC)

Physical support, nutrient cycling, filtering & resilience

Less is better

Mineralizable Carbon

Nutrient cycling, biodiversity & habitat, filtering & resilience

More is better

Permanganate Oxidizable Carbon (POXC)

Biodiversity & habitat, nutrient cycling, filtering & resilience

More is better

Potentially Mineralizable Nitrogen (PMN)

Nutrient cycling, biodiversity & habitat, filtering & resilience

More is better

Soil pH

Nutrient cycling, filtering & resilience

Optimal range

Total Nitrogen

Nutrient cycling, biodiversity & habitat, filtering & resilience

Optimal range

Plant Essential Nutrients

Nutrient cycling

Optimal range

Measure every: 3-5 years

Bulk Density

Physical support, water relations, biodiversity & habitat, filtering & resilience

Optimal range

Cation Exchange Capacity

Nutrient cycling, filtering & resilience

More is better

Infiltration

Water relations, physical support

More is better

Soil Organic Matter (SOM)

Nutrient cycling, filtering & resilience

More is better

Water Holding Capacity (WHC)

Water relations, physical support

More is better

Soil Health Testing

Infographic titled How to Get Quality Results. Be Consistent: sample at the same time each year; send samples to the same lab; keep samples cool and get them to the lab quickly; keep good records of lab results. Context matters: not all soils are created equal; indicators are impacted by inherent properties like climate and soil texture; as well as by management; don't be alarmed if your soil is below the optimal range fro some indicators, see how far you can take your soil with management but know there may be inherent limitations. Back to the Basics: old school measurements like pH, texture, and soil organic matter are still incredible important; new indicators are constantly being developed, don't feel you have to measure all of them, or let the process overwhelm you; have fun exploring through a soil health lens, but remember that you know your soil better than anyone! Be Patient: some measurements may not change as quickly as you'd like; sampling across time is very important, our scientific understanding of these measurements is evolving; we are all on this journey together.

Your Fields

Sample ID

Field ID

Field Name

Crop

Longitude

Latitude

23-CKJ01-02

2

Field 02

Cereal Grain

-118

48


Project Results

Below are tables and graphs describing the physical, biological, and chemical measurements from your soils. Each point represents a sample we collected. Take a look to see how your fields compare to others in the project. All samples were collected from [EDIT: SOIL DEPTH (e.g. 0-6 inches, or 0-30 cm)].

Physical

Field or Average

Texture

Sand

Silt

Clay

Bulk Density

Agg. Stability

WHC

%

g/cm³

%

in/ft

Field 02

Silt Loam

27

62

11

1.1

84

2.2

Cereal Grain Average
(7 Fields)

Silt Loam

42

43

15

1.2

84

2.0

County 15 Average
(6 Fields)

Silt Loam

29

59

11

1.2

85

2.2

Project Average
(100 Fields)

Silt Loam

43

43

14

1.1

90

1.7

Values ≥ project average have darker backgrounds.
Values < project average have lighter backgrounds.

Biological

Field or Average

Organic Matter

Min C

POXC

PMN

ACE Protein

%

mg/kg/day

ppm

lb/ac

g/kg

Field 02

4.0

47

290

50

4.6

Cereal Grain Average
(7 Fields)

4.7

40

400

75

7.3

County 15 Average
(6 Fields)

2.7

29

260

59

4.7

Project Average
(100 Fields)

5.8

50

530

99

8.5

Values ≥ project average have darker backgrounds.
Values < project average have lighter backgrounds.

Chemical

Field or Average

pH

EC

CEC

Total C

TOC

mmhos/cm

cmolc/kg

%

Field 02

5.4

0.57

14

1.3

1.3

Cereal Grain Average
(7 Fields)

5.7

0.41

14

2.5

2.5

County 15 Average
(6 Fields)

6.0

0.45

13

1.1

1.1

Project Average
(100 Fields)

6.1

0.74

15

2.9

2.9

Values ≥ project average have darker backgrounds.
Values < project average have lighter backgrounds.

Plant Essential Macro Nutrients

Field or Average

Total N

NO₃-N

NH₄-N

P

K

Ca

Mg

S

%

ppm

Field 02

0.13

22

28.0

25

650

1,500

170

10.0

Cereal Grain Average
(7 Fields)

0.18

12

10.0

28

350

1,900

250

23.0

County 15 Average
(6 Fields)

0.12

11

8.4

16

500

1,600

230

6.6

Project Average
(100 Fields)

0.21

17

9.0

41

330

2,100

350

24.0

Values ≥ project average have darker backgrounds.
Values < project average have lighter backgrounds.

Plant Essential Micro Nutrients

Field or Average

B

Fe

Mn

Cu

Zn

Na

ppm

Field 02

0.25

61

12.0

1.10

0.60

39

Cereal Grain Average
(7 Fields)

0.25

65

12.0

1.80

1.10

24

County 15 Average
(6 Fields)

0.26

42

8.4

0.95

0.77

74

Project Average
(100 Fields)

0.39

94

8.5

2.10

3.80

48

Values ≥ project average have darker backgrounds.
Values < project average have lighter backgrounds.

Download your data

Looking Forward

Consider describing how this data will be used. Are you building decision support tools? Publications? Will you be speaking at upcoming field days or conferences about this work? Soils data can be confusing… let your audience know that this is just the start of the conversation! Thank participating producers once again.

Acknowledgement

This report was generated using the {soils} R package. {soils} was developed by the Washington State Department of Agriculture and Washington State University, as part of the Washington Soil Health Initiative. Text and figures were adapted from WSU Extension publication #FS378E Soil Health in Washington Vineyards. Learn more about {soils} in this blog post or this webinar.